The morning light streamed through the tall stained glass windows of the Vance estate.
Hannah straightened her apron as she polished the dark oak railing of the grand staircase.
She had worked as a live-in housemaid for the wealthy family for nearly three years.
Every corner of the massive estate reflected immense fortune and deep hidden secrets.
Hannah wiped away a speck of dust from an expensive antique vase near the hallway entrance.
She knew her place in the grand house and always kept her head down during work.
Yet the tense atmosphere inside the master suite had grown heavier over the past few weeks.
Ethan Vance was the sole heir to a vast real estate empire and a famous shipping line.
His young wife Victoria cared only for high society galas and fine emerald dresses.
Their marriage had been arranged to combine two massive corporate fortunes across the state.
Three months ago Victoria gave birth to a healthy infant boy named Leo.
Ethan loved his newborn son with every ounce of his heart and soul.
However Victoria viewed the child as nothing more than an inconvenient burden to her lifestyle.
She often complained about the baby crying during her afternoon rest times.
Hannah often stayed late in the nursery just to make sure little Leo was safe.
She rocked the gentle infant whenever the high-priced private nanny took her evening break.
The child was innocent and sweet but his mother treated him with cold neglect.
On this cold Tuesday morning Ethan was scheduled to sign a critical business merger downtown.
His private security detail waited outside near the polished black executive sedans.
Hannah could hear heated voices echoing from the private family parlor upstairs.
She paused her cleaning work and held her breath as the harsh screaming grew louder.
Victoria was shouting about her canceled trip to Paris and her lost freedom.
Ethan tried to calm her down before he grabbed his leather briefcase to leave.
He rushed down the stairs past Hannah without saying his usual polite morning greeting.
The heavy front doors shut firmly behind him as his guards followed close behind.
Hannah felt a cold chill run down her spine as the house fell deadly silent.
She picked up her laundry basket and walked slowly toward the primary parlor room.
She prayed that Victoria would simply go to sleep and leave the baby in peace.
Instead the double doors burst open wide as Victoria stepped into the main hall.